California defensive lineman Deandre Coleman (91) rushes the quarterback against Oregon State offensive linesman Sean Harlow (78) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Berkeley, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Photo: Tony Avelar, Associated Press

California defensive lineman Deandre Coleman (91) rushes the...

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Defensive tackle Deandre Coleman is considered to have NFL potential despite 67 career losses in high school and college.

There aren't many people with a more fitting nickname than Cal's Deandre Coleman.

The senior defensive tackle is referred to as "Biggie" by coaches, teammates and family members, and the moniker fits him in many ways.

At 6-foot-5 and 315-pounds, Coleman boasts a colossal frame. Though he's often reserved, he flashes a giant smile when humored. Ask anyone around the Bears' program, and they will tell you Coleman has an enormous passion for football.

"His potential is huge," said an NFL scout who attended a recent practice.

Coleman has plenty of positive oversized characteristics. There is, however, an unfortunate one, too: His football career has been plagued with an abundance of big losses.

"It's always been stressful," said Coleman, who has lost 67 career football games, including a 2-34 record at Garfield High in Seattle. "I just try to stay positive through everything. That's all I can really do."

On Saturday, Coleman will try to avoid another loss when Cal (1-6, 0-4 Pac-12) travels to his hometown to face Washington (4-3, 1-3).

"I think Deandre will be excited to play," head coach Sonny Dykes said. "Any time you have a chance to go home and compete in front of your family and friends, that's a big deal."

Growing up in Seattle, all Coleman wanted to do was play football. He begged his mother to let him play, and she eventually approved when he reached high school.

He made Garfield's varsity team as a freshman, and after his sophomore year, scholarship offers began piling up. LSU, Oregon and several others attempted to lure Coleman, but Washington and Cal were the finalists.

"At first I committed to Washington," he said. "But then I took my visit to Cal and fell in love with it."

After redshirting in 2009, it didn't take long for Coleman to get onto the field for the Bears. He played in all 12 games in 2010, and he recorded at least one tackle in 11 of those games. Over the next two seasons, he played in 25 games and registered 13 starts.

Now in his final year, Coleman is Cal's active leader in total tackles (110), tackles for loss (23) and sacks (6.5). He also leads the team with 44 career games played.

Aside from his redshirt season, he has never missed a game.

"You have to be a very tough football player to do that," defensive tackles coach Barry Sacks said. "He's like a marathon runner, like Lou Gehrig. Mental toughness and physical toughness, he has both of those."

Though his senior year is nearing an end, Coleman's football career is far from over. Before the season, ESPN analyst Mel Kiper ranked Coleman 46th on his 2014 NFL Draft Big Board, which evaluates draft-eligible college players.

Coleman's draft stock has dropped slightly since the season began - CBS Sports now projects him as a fifth-round pick after initially giving him a third-round grade - but he is still a near-lock to make an NFL roster.

"I think Deandre certainly has an opportunity to play at the next level," Dykes said. "He has the physical capabilities to do it, but I think a lot of that will depend on where he goes and how he fits."

Finding a fit has been difficult for Coleman, who has played a variety of positions for three different defensive coordinators in college. According to another NFL scout, once Coleman can find the position he is most comfortable with, "the sky is the limit" for his professional future.

Though it has been difficult for Coleman to adjust to different schemes, he knows he will have a chance to find the right position after Cal. He also knows he will have a chance to win more games.

"It's something I can look forward to," he said. "It's always been a dream of mine to play in the NFL."

Coleman has one class left in the spring and will graduate with a bachelor's degree in social welfare before likely starting an offseason program with an NFL team. But before all that, he has five more games to play for the Bears.

"I want to finish this season with a bang," he said. "I want to win the rest of these games."

First up is Washington, and with 40 friends and family members expected to be in attendance, Coleman can't wait to take the field Saturday night.

"This is a big game for me," he said.

A big game for "Biggie." It doesn't get more fitting than that.

Cal (1-6, 0-4 Pac-12) at Washington (4-3, 1-3)

Where: Husky Stadium, Seattle

When: 8 p.m.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports 1/810

Story lines: Cal looks for its first conference win of the season and first win over an FBS opponent since Oct. 13, 2012. The Bears will try to improve their depleted defense, which ranks last in the country in passing yards allowed (346.7), second-to-last in points allowed (44.4) and third-to-last in total yards allowed (525.4) per game. Washington will honor former longtime coach Don James, who died Sunday from pancreatic cancer. The Huskies are 23-point favorites and have won the past four meetings.

What to watch for

Jared Goff's response: The last time Jared Goff was benched, he responded by throwing for a school-record 504 yards the following week. He finds himself in the same situation again after being replaced by Zach Kline last weekend. Cal announced Friday that Goff will get the start. How will he react this time?

Run defense: Cal will need a big game from defensive tackle Deandre Coleman and the rest of the front seven. Washington's Bishop Sankey, the nation's fifth-leading rusher, presents a new challenge to a defense that has seen primarily pass-heavy teams. Huskies quarterback Keith Price is expected to play with a thumb injury, lessening the chance of increased passing.

New-look offensive line: Cal is playing musical chairs on the offensive line. Redshirt freshman Christian Okafor will make his first career start at left tackle, and true freshman Chris Borrayo will lose his redshirt and start at left guard in what will be his first game action. Jordan Rigsbee will slide over from left guard and start at center. After starting the first seven games at left tackle, Freddie Tagaloa could start at right guard. "If something's not working, you can't keep doing the same thing," offensive line coach Zach Yenser said of the revamped line.